The rumors about Russell Westbrook and the Los Angeles Lakers parting ways will not quiet down this off-season. After Westbrook’s dismal debut season in LA, it seems everyone wants to see both player and team to make a change and enter a more favorable situation.
New Lakers coach Darvin Ham has already addressed the situation with Westbrook and confirmed that they intend to bring him back for the season. In addition, Ham set expectations of Westbrook, especially with his commitment to defense. Ham would obviously back Russ in a press conference, so do the Lakers still want to move their point guard?
Whether they are or they are not, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith wants the New York Knicks to try and move heaven and earth to acquire Russell Westbrook. Smith went so far as to say that he would trade anyone on the Knicks to acquire Russ.
Stephen A. Smith:
“I’d give up everybody on the Knicks for Russell Westbrook.”
(via @ESPN)
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 9, 2022
Trades to get Westbrook to the Knicks have flown around since the Lakers have been eliminated. The Knicks are a young team where having a presence like Westbrook could be extremely beneficial. We saw how Russ took the Washington Wizards to the Playoffs in his sole season there, he could do something similar provided he gets the room to operate.
With the development of RJ Barrett being the priority, it seems Westbrook may harm that as they are both non-shooters. A player like Immanuel Quickley may be the better fit, but Westbrook is box office.
The Knicks have to be careful in terms of what assets they give up for a $47 million contract for a player that will become a free agent next season. Considering the Knicks love keeping cap flexibility open for free agents, moving contracts like Julius Randle that are longer-term to the Lakers to have massive space in the 2023 off-season may be one way to justify a move like this.
